Improvement in belgian zinc-furnaces



T. HIEBTZ.

Belgian Zinc Furnaces.

Patented Sept. 29,1874.

.No.155,44l.

WITNESSES:

THE GRAPHIC C0, PHOT-|JTH.35& 4X PARK PLACE,N.Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE HIERTZ, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN BELGIAN ZINC-FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,441, datedSeptember 29, 1874; application filed August 1, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE HmRTz, of St. Louis, in the county of St.Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Zinc-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinalsection of my improved zinc-furnace on the line 0 0, Fig. 2 Fig. 2, ahorizontal section of the same on line k k, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a verticaltransverse section on the line a: 00, Fig. 1, showing arrangement ofdouble furnace.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to improvements in zinc-furnaces, by which a fullercombustion of the fire-gases under admission of heated air and a moreuniform heat over the whole furnace is obtained, so that the upperretorts are reduced nearly at the same time as the lower retorts. Aconsiderable saving in the consumption of fuel is thereby produced, andthe lining, by the admission of air and the more equal distribution ofheat, kept cooler, and less liable to burn out too soon, so as torequire expense for repairing.

The disadvantage of the high Belgian furnace consisted in the fact that,in order to have heat enough for the reduction of the ores in the upperretorts, the lower ores were exposed to an excessive temperature, whichcaused the too rapid deterioration and destruction of the furnace-liningand the retorts.

My invention is intended to obviate these defects; and consists in thearrangement of a series of flues in the front, rear, and side lining ofthe furnace for drawing in cold air near the lower part of the same,heating it up during the passage through the fines, and introducing itat about the middle of the height of of the furnace through smallapertures in the lining to the interior to mingle well, and thoroughlyconsume the gases of combustion.

1n the drawing, A represents a zinc-furnace with asuitable number ofretorts, arranged in the usual manner, in tiers above each other. Two ofthese furnaces are generally placed adjoining each other, with a commonrear wall of suitable strength. The fire-place B extends in longitudinaldirection through the furnace below the retorts, the lowermost tier ofretorts or cannons being not charged with ore, but serving for thepurpose of introducing a quantity of heated air to the fire from theflues arranged in the front lining. These flues G are arranged inlongitudinal direction in the front part, the cold air being introducedthrough a bottom aperture, a, of the furnace, and gradually heated up inthe passage through the flues until discharged through theissuing-apertures b in front of the cannons. The heated air passes theninto the cannons, and through top aperture 61 of the same to the fire.The cannons may, however, be entirely dispensed with, which requires theconnection of the issuingapertures 11, with extension brick flues orpipes for discharging the heated air at greater height into the fire,and preventing the apertures from getting choked up by small pieces ofcoal or cinders. The front space between the pillars up to the height ofthe cannons would be re quired to be filled with common fire-brick, andsuitable holes for cleaning out the air-flues. A series of similarflues, O, is arranged in the rear lining of the furnace, and the heatedair issues through small apertures e at about half the height of thefurnace. The air, in passing through the flues, keeps the lining cooler,and therefore more durable, while it gets heated to such a degree thatit min gles instantly with the fire-gases at the height of theissuing-holes, and produces their almost complete combustion, so thatthe temperature of the upper part of the furnace is increased, and madenearly uniform with that in the lower part nearer to the fire-place, theore in the upper retorts reduced at about the same time as the ore inthe lower retorts, andthus the productive capacity of the furnaceconsiderably enhanced under the saving of fuel, time, andlabor. The sidewalls of the furnace are also constructed with flues in the lining. Thecold air enters through front or side apertures f at suitable height,passes up, and issues in heated state through side apertures g at aboutthe height of the rear apertures, as indicated in Figs 1 and 3.

The furnace may be built at less expense for material, butat greaterexpense for labor, so that the aggregate cost is about the same as thatof the old style of furnaces. The heat is regulated by closing thedraft-holes in the fire-place, and by suitable direct cold-air holes atthe height of the issuing-apertures for admitting the full control ofthe interior of the furnace. The retorts are supported on retortbearingtiles in inclined position, in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent A zinc-furnace constructed with air-flues in thelining of the front, rear, and for introducing cold air, heating it up,and issuing it at suitable height into the interior of the furnace forthe more thorough combustion of the fuel, and a uniform degree oftemperature throughout the furnace, substantially in the manner and forthe purpose set forth.

THEODORE HIERTZ. Witnesses:

0. O. HARTMAN, ADOLPH E. SCHMIDT.

side walls,

